My Idol Inventory (as of 9-16-11)

My 1st copy of Morning Musume's 47th Single came in today! (My Ai-chan copy is coming later) So today in my excitement I will show my small idol collection, which I was planning on doing someday anyway. 

Happy Birthday to Takahashi Ai

Today lets all wish Momusu leader Takahashi Ai a happy 25th Birthday! This is Ai-chan's last birthday as a member of Morning Musume, may it be the best one yet! 

Morning Musume - Alo Hello 2011 Photobook Cover

Why no Zukki bikini love? :( Otherwise beautiful cover!

Morning Musume - 12, Smart HQ Covers Released

Limited Edition on bottom, Regular Edition on top.

Morning Musume - 12, Smart LQ Album Covers

Left: Limited Edition, Right: Regular Edition

Morning Musume 47th Single: Kono Chikyuu no Heiwa wo Honki de Negatterun da yo! / Kare to Issho ni Omise ga Shitai Full PVs Available

The full PVs for Morning Musume's 47th single as well as Takahashi Ai's last single were made available on their official Youtube channel. Both PVs are in the same video, as it turns out that they are connected in a reality/mind-bending way. Video after the break, enjoy! 

"Mobekimasu" and "Berikyuu" Collaboration Singles Announced

All Mobekimasu artists (Momusu, Berryz Kobo, C-ute, Mano Erina, S/mileage) will release a collaboration single titled, Busu ni Naranai Tetsugaku, which will be released on November 16th. 

Ikuta Erina is the New Oha Star Girl!

Morning Musume's ninth generation member Ikuta Erina has taken recently graduated Ogawa Saki's place and has become the new Oha Star girl!!

July Birthdays

July 1st

Sato Natsuki (AKB48 Team B) - 21

July 3rd

Sudo Maasa (Berryz Kobo) - 19

Itano Tomomi (AKB48 Team K) - 20

July 7th

Ikuta Erina (Morning Musume) - 14

July 10th

Maeda Atsuko (AKB48 Team A) - 20

July 13th

Michishige Sayumi (Morning Musume) - 22

Happy Birthday girls!! the rest coming later this month.

The Pandas are back in Japan!!!!

Linlin with Suzuki Kanon

Junjun

Junjun and Linlin have finally made their way back to Tokyo!


According to her blog post, Junjun is returning and planning to attend a future Morning Musume concert. Hopefully she can stay long enough for Ai-chan's graduation concert.


Linlin has already attended on of Momusu's concerts in their current tour, and has even visited them in their dressing rooms. She took various pictures with the members.

Linlin and Ai-chan

Linlin and Sayu

Linlin and Gaki

Linlin and Sayu

Also, according to Sayu's blog, Kamei Eri has also attended one of Morning Musume's concerts in Zama. She gave Sayumi a present of pasteries, idols and their food! :)

Sayu and her pastry (^_^)

I'm so happy that these girls didn't just disappear after their graduations and are still finding ways to keep in touch with each other. I am also looking forward to more pictures on Sayu's blog when she meets up with Junjun again!

Morning Musume 46th Single : Only You Bigger Covers

Limited Edition A

Limited Edition B

Limited Edition C (and BIGGER Riho Pimping!)

Regular Edition

Ai no Dangan and Only You Covers Released

Low quality covers of both Morning Musume's and Berryz Kobo's new single have been released.

Morning Musume 46th Single Covers

Notice the Riho pimping? I DO!

Berryz Kobo 26th Single Covers

Maji Desu ka Ska! Official PV

The full PV for Morning Musume's 45th single Maji Desu ka Ska! was released yesterday and here it is!

I'll admit that the PV is kinda boring and that it could be more exciting, but this is a good first step away from what some were calling the "emo musume" era.
The single will be released on April 6th.

Releases for the J-pop World

Some of the releases that were postponed due to the earthquake now have new release dates:

Morning Musume-Maji Desu ka Ska! (45th Single)

C-ute: Chou WONDERFUL 6 (6th Album)

SDN48- Ai, Chuseyo (2nd Single)

will be released on April 6th, 2011. 

Morning Musume Concert Tour Autumn 2010 ~Rival Survival~ Blu-Ray (Kamei Eri, Junjun. Linlin Graduation) will be released on April 13th, 2011

Hello! Project 2011 Winter ~Kansei Shinsen Matsuri~ A Gana/B ttkuri Live will both be released on April 27th, 2011. 

No word so far on AKB48's album or Kikkawa Yuu's debut single. 

Massive 8.9 Earthquake in Japan

By now I'm sure that everyone has heard about the massive earthquake that Japan had last Friday. The quake was 8.9 in magnitude and was centered in Sendai. Even today there are still huge aftershocks going on there. Even worse is the growing worry at Fukushima Daiichi nuclear plant and the radiation leaks.

Here is footage of the tsunami that the earthquake caused. It is not for the faint of heart so please watch at your own will.

I truly pray for the safety and well-being of all of the citizens in Japan right now and to those who have lost so much due to this quake. And to everyone wishing to do something to help there are countless foundations that are taking donations to help the relief effort in Japan. Any small amount makes a huge difference.

Japan Earthquake and Tsunami Relief Fund by Global Giving

Salvation Army Donation Site

American Red Cross

Everyone is involved in the relief effort. AKB48 has been very active in the relief effort so far. The have announced that they have opened a bank account to accept donations on behalf of the Japanese Red Cross as well as pledging to donate 500 million yen from themselves and from Akimoto Yassushi as well.

As far as group activities go, it has been announced that various activities and releases have been either pushed back or canceled entirely. The release date for AKB's first original album has been pushed back from its original date of April 6th to an currently unknown date. There five concerts scheduled at Yokohama Arena have also have been canceled due to the quake. The AKB theater has also been closed and there is no word on when it will reopen again.

Hello! Project has also been hit by the quake. Morning Musume's 45th single and C-ute's 6th album have also been pushed back to an unknown release date. The release of Kikkawa Yuu's debut single has also been pushed back. Various fanclub events for Berryz Kobo, C-ute, S/mileage and Kikkawa Yuu have also been canceled with the promise of rescheduling.

Once again I truly wish for the safety of everyone in Japan and I pray for those who have been directly effected by this disaster. I strongly encourage all of you to please consider donating to one of the relief efforts listed above or any others you may find. Anything at all is helpful.

News Roundup 3-6-11

Since I've had alot of work to do this past week, i havent been able to do much blogging. so today I'm posting on recent news in the idol world. 

1. Akimoto Sayaka reinstated as Team K captain

As most of you already know, Sayaka resigned as captain of Team K after it became known that she had an older man, Ouji Hiroi, stay at her house. Since then she has promised that she will do her best as a member of Team K and hopefully regain her position as captain. Well last week, she took place in the Tokyo Marathon, and after seeing how hard she worked in training and completing the marathon Akimoto has reinstated her as captain! Sayaka is one of the most dedicated members of AKB48 and her resignation broke the hearts of many of her fans, but shes captain again and thats all that matters. Congrats Sayaka!!!

2. New AKB48 sub-group : DiVA

Along with the previous announcement, Akimoto announce a new sub-group named DiVA. This unit features Akimoto Sayaka, Miyazawa Sae, Umeda Ayaka, and Masuda Yuka, all under the office48 umbrella. I have been waiting for the day that Sae and Sayaka would be featured in another unit, so this announcement was great to hear. Their debut single will be released under avex trax on April 27th. 

3. Maji Desu ka Ska Previews Released

The full radio preview for Morning Musume's Maji Desu ka Ska was released a few days ago. As most people expected, it has a ska feel to it like Koko ni Iruze! After the radio preview was released, today a short preview for the PV was released. I love the costumes used in the PV, they remind me of the outfits used in Naichau Kamo. The 9th gen seemed to have a decent amount of screen-time as compared to the older members. What I dont understand is why there is a cactus in the middle of the set? Oh well, Morning Musume is full of quirks. Thats what makes them fun! The full PV should be released sometime this week.

4. Sakura no Ki ni Narou Reaches 1 million!

Its official. In it's third week of sales, AKB48's 20th single reaches 1 million copies sold! This isnt there first million, (Beginner reached this number just about 2 months ago) but it is the fastest in only three weeks of sales. I wouldnt be surprised if for their next single they cracked 1 million in the first week. Lets hope!

5. Kikkake wa You PV Preview Released

Kikkawa Yuu's 1st single PV preview was released last week. It is a typical cute idol PV and song, but Kikka pulls off everything just perfectly. Not being selected for Morning Musume was a blessing in disguise, she has a much better presence for a solo artist. I look forward to seeing the full video and all of her future releases. This single will be released on March 30th. 

Thats it for this weeks news! Hopefully I can get back to regular blogging this week.